Magneto-strictive type printing device



Oct. 29, 1957 G. c. DEVOL 2,811,101

MAGNETO-STRICTIVE TYPE PRINTING DEVICE Original Filed June 7, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 1 oaconen l lllll AMPLIFIER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1957 G. c. DEVOL 2,811,101

MAGNETO-STRICTIVE TYPE PRINTING DEVICE Original Filed June 7, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 2 J i. ENE 2B EMBED BE 33 FIG.IO

27 g TRANSFORMER 3 now tor 650,955 C D5701 atton leg Oct. 29, 1957 e. c.DEVOL 2,811,101

MAGNETO-STRICTIVE TYPE PRINTING DEVICE Original Filed June 7, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 550W"! C anal A/VJ" ATTORNE 2,811,101MAGNETO=STRICT1VE TYPE PRINTING DEVICE Greenwich, Conn., assignor, bymesne New York,

George C. Devol,

assignments, to Sperry Rand Corporation, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Ori rial application June 7 1951 Serial No. $0,345. l ividedand this appiicatioh Marhh 18, 1954, Ser1alN0. 416,974

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-1) This invention relates to printing, and inparticular to a method and means for accomplishing printing at highspeed.

In various electronic and other high speed calculating and businessmachines in use at the present time, the need for printing the output ofthe machines, as well as the printing of information received at highspeed from other sources, has presented a problem that has not beensolved by the use of ordinary mechanical printing mechanisms, duelargely to the time required in the movements of the mechanical parts,the transmission of motion, and the restoration of the parts after eachprinting action. This problem is also present due to the rapid sensingof data now possible, such as in the use of a magnetically spotted tape,or a perforated tape, or cards, which can be fed at high speed past asensing station where the data is sensed, translated from the code inwhich it may be punched, spotted or otherwise recorded, and to this endone object of the present invention is to print the data as fast as itis received by an arrangement of mechanisms that can carry out theprinting operation at an extremely high speed.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange recording, pick-upand printing means with respect to each other that data can be recorded,read, and printed at sutficiently high speeds to keep pace with theimposition of data in a recorder from a source producing the data atextremely high speed.

Astill further object is to make use of a single set of type from whichthe matter is printed in random fashion and'in which type a minimumamount of means is employed whose movement, to produce the printing, maybe very rapid so that two like characters can be printed successively bythe same type piece.

Another object of the invention is to bring about the printing of allcharacters needed, from a single set of type, by the use of variousmeans which will reduce type movement to a minimum or eliminate anymovement of the type entirely so that printing can be accomplished athigh speed and with a negligible amount of wear to the parts.

Other objects of the invention include the application of themagnetostriction to printing so that mechanically operated type does nothave to be employed to produce the printing effect; to interpretperforated records and print the characters represented by the codedarrangement of perforations, on the same record; to make unnecessary theuse of type wheels, type racks and other type or paper carriers whichrequire adjustment in order to carry on the printing action, and toverify the correctness of the printing automatically as it is beingdone.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 230,345,filed June 7, 1951, for Random Printing Method and Means.

A'more clear conception of further objects and the operation of theinvention may be had from the following specification when read in thelight of the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal elevation of the method and means forprinting at high speed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2is a fragmentary view in plan of the invention illustrated in Fig.1;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are plan views of the recording, reading andprinting means shown in diagrammatic relation to each other toillustrate the random printing of characters of an exemplary group;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the invention as employed in connection withone form of a perforated datacarrying medium;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a type actuator used in the highspeed printing mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in perspective showingthe mounting of thetype carrier illustrated in Fig. 8;'

Fig. 10 is a circuit used in controlling a type actuator as illustratedin Fig. 8, the circuit also including diagrammatically a pick-up headand current amplifying means;

Fig. 11 is a view in sectional elevation showing diagrammatically themeans for rapidly projecting and retracting a piece of type by the useof high pressure air and vacuum;

Fig. 12 is a view in longitudinal section showing the means foremploying alternately a high air pressure and a vacuum to project thepaper and ribbon against the face of the type; t

Fig. 13 is a view in section taken through a pressure cylinder, an enddiaphragm of which actuates a type element;

Fig. 14 is a view in perspective showing the use of a magneto-strictiveeffect in producing printing;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing how a movingperforated record card can be sensed and printed upon by the applicationof the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly Figs. 17,inclusive, in which the invention has been shown in various methods ofuse, 10 indicates an endless magnetic recording tape which may be fedover suitable rollers 11, in the direction indicated by the arrow, by adrive roller 12 mounted on a shaft 13 which is driven by any suitablesource of power. The shaft also carries a drive roller 14 of similardiameter to roller 12 so that the peripheral speed of the rollers 12 and14 will feed a paper tape 15 from a supply source 16 at the same speedof travel and in the same direction as the recording tape 1.0. The tape10 may be mounted on a drum instead of being passed over rollers, ifdesired, and is arranged to receive the characters, of matter to bethereafter printed, in the form of magnetic spots 17 which are appliedin the well known manner by a recording head 18 employing the usualpulsating direct current or as disclosed in my application S. N.659,223, filed April 3, 1946, now Patent No. 2,590,091, granted March25, 1952, to cause each character unit 19 thereof to magnetically spotthe recording tape 10.

The impulses for the magnetizing units 19 of the recording head 18 arederived from the sensing of a perforated Teletype tape or any othersource of data such as the output of an electronic calculator and mayinclude, in the circuit in which the recording head is included, anytype of decoding means, the use of which is well known in the art. Thedata spotted on the tape in Figs. 36, inclusive, is 01024364879B A, eachcharacter spot having been imposed on the tape in the sequential orderin which it will appear on the printed tape when the printing action forthe foregoing example has been completed. As an example of thearrangement of the magnetic spots 17, the tape 10 may be compared to anymachine controlling card or tape in which data designations are arrangedin vertical columns and longitudinal rows and are located at theintersections of-said l atented Oct. 29, 1957 columns and rows at whatare designated as data index positions. As the data being fed to therecording head is taken from a tape or card whc-se columns of data areequally spaced, the spots 17 will lie-imposed on the tape 10 at equallyspaced intervals lengthwise of the tape by the units 19 of the recordinghead 18 which units are spaced equal distances apart widthwise orlaterally of the card in a single row. This will result in spots 17beingimposed on the tape at the right angled intersections of imaginaryhorizontal and vertical, or lateral,

lines 20 and 21, respectively so that the sensing units 22 of thepick-up head 23, horizontally aligned with the character units 19 ofrecording head 18 will lie obliquely across the intersections or dataindex positions and will sense the spots 17 as they pass under the head23. This sensing may not occur in the order in which the spots have beenimposed on the tape as it will be noted in Fig. 4 .that spots 4, and 8are sensed at the same time as spots and 1 which latter were imposed onthe tape in advance of the 4, 6 and 8.

When the magnetized spots 17 pass beneath their respective sensing units22 of the pick-up head 23 they 'Will produce a pulse in the line 24,Fig. 10, which is increased by the amplifier 26 employing the usualvacuum tube and transformer combination, and fed to the centrally tappedtransformer 27 for operation of a printing unit 28 (Fig. 8) includingprinting and return coils 29 and 31, between the poles of which isloosely positioned a metal strip or armature 32 carrying at its outerend a type character 33. The strip 32 is imprisoned in the frame 34 ofthe coil holder and preferably includes knife edges 36 and acounter-weight 37 so that free action of the printing type is insured toproduce printing at extremely high speed, through the ribbon 38, on thepaper tape 15 with a minimum of wear to the parts. The concerted actionof the printing and return coils occurs on the positive and negativealternations of the pulse cycle as controlled by the 2050 type Thyratrontubes 39 and 40, in the respective printing and return coil circuits.

I The printing head 42 includes one complete set of numeral printingunits 28 from zero to nine and one complete set of units 23 from A to Ztogether with enough additional units to print other indicia such asperiods, commas, and the like, but only one type element bearing anycharacter need be employed. Hence, as shown in Fig. 3, with the tapes 10 and 15 being fed at the same speed; and the character units 19, thesensing units 22 and the printing units 28 all being arranged in thesame relative order to each other; and the sensing units 22 beingdisposed obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of tape 10;it will be observed that to print 01024364879B A these characters willbe entered on the tape 10 in this order by the recording head 18, theunits 19 of which receive their impulses from a remote source such as ateletype mechanism. As the spots 17 representing the characters 0146813in the first sensing action are simultaneously sensed by the respectivesensing units 22 the corresponding printing units are simultaneouslyactuated to print these numerals on the tape 15 at the same time, sothat their printing on the tape 15, as seen in Fig. 3, appears to be atrandom. This is also true of the manner in which the spots are sensed bythe head 23 and is identified by the term frandom printing in that,while the character spots 17 are imposed on the tape 11 by the head 18in successive order and in the order that they will appear on the tape'15 after printing has been completed, they are not sensed by thepick-up head or printed by the printing units in "this order. In thesecond sensing action of the head 23 ;(Fig. 4) the numerals '2 and 9 aresimultaneously printed on tape 15, the tapes 10 and 15 having advancedone increment or a space equal to the distance between the lateral lines21. In the third sensing action of the head --23 (Fig. the characters 0,3and 7 are simulitaneously'printedon tape 15, the tapes 'and having thetype member. The right hand end of the cylinder is advanced one moreincrement. In the fourth sensing action of the head 23 (Fig. 6) thecharacters 4 and A will be printed, the tapes 10 and 15 having advancedone increment. It will be noted that a space occurs on the tape 10between the spots representing A and B" which space also occurs in thematter as finally printed. While the tapes are fed at high speed andcontinuously, the word increment does not indicate any step by stepaction of the tapes although in other forms of the invention this may bedone if desired. It is evident that the spots are in thirteen differentpositions lengthwise of the tape 10 but by a longitudinal movement ofthe tape 16, embracing only four lateral column spaces, thirteencharacters have been sensed and printed. The oblique position of thesensing head will depend upon the speed with which the spots are appliedto the tape 10 and by varying the relative speed between the travel ofthe tapes 1i and 15 the spacing of the characters as they are printed onthe tape 15 can be varied. The tape 10 is cleared by the well knownaction of a demagnetizing head oreraser 41.

Referring to Fig. 7, a tape 43, perforated in code arrangement as at 44,may be sensed by a unit 46 Whose impulses are transmitted to therecording head 18 through a decoder 49, the operation of which issimilar to that explained in U. S. Patent No. 2,160,152 to W. F. Kelley.

Such a decoder may be also utilized in connection with a with a decoder49 as set forth in U. S. Patents 2,224,761 and 2,224,762 for operatingthe recording head 18 to magnetize the tape 10, which can be read by thepickup head 23 to print on the card 47 through the printing head 42, thedecoded matter of said card.

Verification of the correctness of the printing can be done through theuse of a printing element circuit V (Fig. 8) which may be closed by acontact 50, the spring arm 45 of which, actuated by printing action ofthe respective type strip 32, also serves to retract the latter. Thecircuit V from each printing unit 28 may be used to operate mechanism toprint a verifying record at a remote point where the informationsupplied to the recording head P originated.

The obstacle that has stood in the way of fast printing has been themechanical projection or retraction of the type, it being quite obviousthat typewriting speed is limited by the speed with which the type canbe projected and retracted and to this end there is shown in Fig. 11 atype carrier 51 having a piston 52, in a cylinder 53 which isreciprocated by the alternate injection of air, under very highpressure, and application of vacuum at both ends of the piston. This isaccomplished by a valve 54 having an air inlet 55 and a vacuum outlet 56controlled by an internal rotor 57, the walls of which form a valve foralternately controlling the flow of air and vacuum through pipes 59 toports 61 and 62 respectively. The rapid coaction of high air pressureand high vacuum alternately at opposite ends of the piston results ment.A blast of highly compressed air is admitted at 'port 61 at the sametime that vacuum is applied to the port 62. This results in the almostinstantaneous and free movement of the piston 52 to which is securedprovided with a vent or relief valve 63 which permits the bleeding of anair cushion formed in that end of the cylinder thus permitting thecontrolled cushioning of the type action li1 Fig. 12 a further method ofprinting using highly compressed air and vacuum is disclosed. 'The type64 are stationary with an ink ribbon 38 positioned between the type andpaper 15. A chamber 67 extends the full-length of the row of type andlocated in alignment with each type is an air tube 68. A vacuum ismaintained in the chamber 67 at all times thus holding the paper awayfrom the ribbon and type. When it is desired to print, a short or quickblast of highly compressed air is admitted to tube 68 associated withthe desired print character, which force drives the paper against theribbon and type. At the end of the blast of air the vacuum againwithdraws the paper.

In Fig. 13 is disclosed a still further method of operating type. Eachtype 69 is secured to a spring metal diaphragm 71. A blast of highlycompressed air of short duration admitted to a tube 72 surrounding thediaphragm will cause the type to print.

In Fig. 14 a magneto-strictive resonator is employed which consists of ametallic rod or tube 73 maintained in longitudinal elastic vibration bya high frequency current supplied to a coil 75 wound thereon. Coil 75receives its pulses through the amplifier 26 from its respective sensingunit 22 of the pick-up head 23 (Fig. which pulse action is produced inthe line 24 as above described. The printing is done by utilizing themagnetostrictive action on the nickel rod or tube 73. It has been foundthat an air column built up by the vibrations or pulsing of the rod willtake the shape of the end crosssection of that rod or an openingtherein. It is proposed to form the end of a nickel tube or rod in theshape of a printing character. This tube will then be positioned in acloud chamber 74 containing ink or a magnetic substance in finelysuspended particles. When current is applied to the operating magnet orcoil 75, the air column built up on the end of the rod Will solidify theink in the cloud into the shape of the character, thus printing it on apaper 76 located in the chamber, or moving therethrough. A rod of anyform or having a small opening on the end may be used to print amagnetically conductive spot of like shape on the material 76 Where thecloud bank is impregnated with a magnetizable element.

Because the operating impulses set up in the system are handled incircuit form, it is evident that the various units of the mechanism canbe remote from each other. For instance, the source of the dataimpressed on a recording head can be distant from the recording stationand likewise a printing unit can be remote from a sensing unit. Whilethe linear order of these units coincide, any order of characters may beused as desired and not the numerical and alphabetical order asillustrated in the drawings. The method herein disclosed is susceptibleof many variations, such for instance as; by providing a take-up in thefeed of either of the tapes, intermittent in-put and constant out-putmay be attained or one or more magnetic tapes and plural recording headsmay be used with different spacings between a related recording head andreading head of a set so that printing may be done on a single tape bymechanically actuated printing mechanisms spaced apart a distancecorresponding to the distance separating the reading heads so that atime lag is provided that allows for the mechanical operation ofprinting mechanisms such as used in a typewriter. The printing could bedone on the same tape from which the data was read, if desired, andwhile magnetically recorded spots are employed because of the extremelyhigh speed with which they can be imposed on the tape, it is within thescope of the invention to employ punched holes if desired, whose sensingcould be accomplished in any of the known ways, such for instance, as byelectrical contacts or brushes or light conveying tubes. Also the detection by photocell of spots and configurations of indicia other thanspots which may be employed with or without code translating means iswithin the provision of the invention.

As as example, Fig. 15 shows diagrammatically how the method of theinvention may be used to interpret perforated tabulating cards. Thepunched card is being sensed by passing light from light bank 106through perforations in the card and then by way of Lucite rods 107 to aphoto-electric and decoding sensing device 108 which is well known.After being amplified in the decoder the signals are carried by circuits110 to a recording head 18 which records the data as magnetic spots onthe tape 10 as above. A reading head 23 is spaced from the recordinghead 18 a distance equal to the travel of a card such as 105 from aposition under the Lucite rods 107 'so that shown for a card such as 109under the printing unit 42 where the data previously sensed is printed.The printing unit and reading head are connected by circuits 111 whichcontrol the type to print the data above the column from which it wassensed. In Fig. 15, the card 105 is being sensed simultaneously with theprinting of previously sensed data on card 109.

While I have described what I consider to be highly desirableembodiments of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in formcould be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I,therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown anddescribed, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention ashereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Printing means comprising a pulse member including a coil formed toprovide a printing character configuration at one end; means including amagnetically pulsed data reading head and a current amplifier in circuitwith said head and said coil for pulsing said member; a chamber intowhich said member extends, said chamber containing a cloud, a tape,means for moving the tape through the chamber and past the characterconfiguration end of said pulse member, said cloud being impregnatedwith ink particles in suspension and, in contact with the tape passingthrough said chamber to be printed upon and with the character formingend of said pulse member, and said pulse member being operated by themagneto-strictive pulsing action of the coil to solidify the inkparticles of the cloud bank, between the end of the pulse member and thetape to be printed upon, into character shape conforming to theconfiguration of the end of said pulse member to print said character onsaid tape.

2. Printing means including a chamber, a pulse member having an end insaid chamber formed to provide a printing character configuration, apulsing coil on said member, means for passing material to be printedupon through the chamber and past the end of said pulse member;characterized by the fact, that the chamber contains a cloud impregnatedwith ink particles in suspension and in contact with the material andthe end of said pulse member, and that the pulse member is operated by amagneto-strictive pulsing action of said coil to solidify the inkparticles of the cloud bank, between the end of said pulse member andthe material to be printed on, into character shape conforming to theconfiguration of the end of said pulse member to print a character onsaid material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,654,311 Costanzo Oct. 6, 1953 2,690,394 Carlson Sept. 28, 19542,691,345 Huebner Oct. 12, 1954 2,704,333 Calosi Mar. 15, 1955 2,716,826Huebner Sept. 6, 1955

